The present political struggle in which Israel is involved is the most critical since the establishment of the State, Abba Eban, Ambassador to the United States and permanent delegate of Israel at the United Nations, told the people of Israel tonight on a national radio broadcast. Mr. Eban is home for a short visit to consult with government leaders on the current Israel situation vis-a-vis the Western Powers.
Mr. Eban told his audience that “we are trying to make Washington realize that Israel is not prepared to let itself be made the passive object of various intrigues which are being woven around her, ably assisted by the erroneous policy of the Western Powers.” In this struggle, he added, Israel has a valuable asset in the sympathetic attitude of the American public.
The Ambassador, while attacking the “erroneous” American policy of military aid for the Arab states, expressed vehement opposition to those who demanded that Israel refuse to accept further American aid, in protest against current policies. He noted that, in three years, the United States gave Israel $200, 000, 000 in aid, which proved one of the most effective elements in further Israel-American friendship and that this “generous assistance” was designed to strengthen and consolidate Israel in every respect.
Regarding the prospects for an Arab-Israel peace, Mr. Eban said that “we must not delude ourselves that peace is around the corner.” However, he stressed that all declarations by the Western Powers and the United Nations should tend to emphasize that peace is a final objective of their policy in the Middle East. He called a “tragic mistake” the granting of American assistance to Egypt as long as the latter refuses to heed the UN Security Council’s order to end the anti-Israel blockade of the Suez Canal.
The historic ties between Israel and the Jewish people of the world are one of Israel’s major assets in the current situation, he said. Calling for unity in the current situation, Mr. Eban noted that such unity had proved successful in the first five years of life of the Israel State.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
